Tom Rapp, an 18 year-old draft resistor and college dropout living in Eaugallie, Florida, sent a small unsolicited reel of tape to ESP. Bernard Stollman invited him to bring his musicians to New York, where they recorded their acclaimed debut, One Nation Underground in 1967. Less than a year later, they released the equally strong follow-up, Balaklava. Classics of the genre, which certainly would have seen wider attention had ESP survived past 1968, these recordings are getting a well-deserved second chance, thanks to a thorough remastering, under the supervision of Tom Rapp.

Psychedelic-folk debut from one of the most erudite, literate minds in rock, Thomas D. Rapp (and the first of his ever-changing Swine). Although the songs here lack some cohesion, this is still a stunning piece of work, from the nightmarish sleeve art -- the "Hell Panel" from Hieronymus Bosch's 15th century painting "Garden of Delights" -- to the strange yet powerful songs. - Peter Kurtz

“…an omni-present 'n' undisputed semi-masterpiece it is and almost a perfect album if there is such a thing…” Benbenek